ARMENIA FUND LAUNCHES RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Lragir.am
19-09-2007 19:16:34
September 18, 2007, was the official launch date for the "Hayastan"
All-Armenian Fund’s Armenia Fund’s Rural Development Program. The
event took place in Khashtarak village of Tavush region. It is one
of the six villages included in the Rural Development Program first
cluster. The other five villages are Aknaghbyur, Azatamut, Ditavan,
Lusadzor and Lusahovit. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vartan Oskanian, Armenia Fund Executive
Director Vahe Aghabegians and the Regional Governor of Tavush Armen
Ghularian.
Mayors and some of the inhabitants of all six villages involved in
the Program gathered in front of Khashtarak School where the event
took place.
"In the past, there have been many words but few deeds. The time has
come for an initiative that will get the job done. We deeply believe
that the Armenia Fund’s Rural Development Program is that initiative",
said Minister Oskanian, who is the Member of the Board of Trustees
of Armenia Fund and the Coordinator for the Rural Development Program.
"This Program enjoys the widest support of both the President of
Armenia and the Diasporans. It truly has a strong potential for
becoming an all-Armenian endeavor. Today, as we signal the launch
of the first cluster of the Rural Development Program we are already
working on establishing clusters in Lori and Syunik and expanding it
to all of Armenia’s rural communities."
Executive Director Vahe Aghabegians stressed the importance of the
active involvement of members of all the communities concerned in
the program’s implementation.
"This is a quest we have to accomplish together. Together we must
share the responsibility for the success of this enterprise. We
need your involvement in all the phases of project implementation",
said Mr. Aghabegians. "This Program has two fundamental components:
infrastructure and economic development. Infrastructure alone cannot
solve the problems that stand before Armenia’s rural communities. We
also need strong economic initiatives to truly revitalize our villages,
to halt the immigration and bring people back home where they can live,
work and prosper."
All of the villages included in the Program are located close
to Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan. Border communities are the
prerogative of the Rural Development Program as they are in the most
vulnerable position in a country which otherwise registers tremendous
economic growth. At the same time, they are vitally important for
the country’s future for both strategic and economic reasons. The
Government of Armenia addressed the issue by developing the National
Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Rural Development Program will act
as a supplementary mechanism accelerating the process of economic
and infrastructure development.